Five Senses portrait of radiation therapy

On Wednesday when I was laying on the radiation table/ bed, I thought that I should write a Five Senses portrait so that I remember this month when it’s all over.

Here’s the background.

breast cancer awareness month

Sight

The tree-lined jacaranda street as I drive to the oncology radiation unit.
The friendly smile of the security guards.
Sweat on the workers as they do their work in the heat outside.
The smiling photo wall of all employees in the radiation unit.
The big tree with all the buttons of those who have completed their treatment cycles and the big brass bell which I cannot wait to ring!
The colour of that day’s scrubs. I commented once and there is indeed a colour of the day. However, all students doing their practicals wear grey.
The sight of the basket (I’m number 16) with the sheet for the bed, the box with the reflective markers and my treatment card.
The always friendly faces of the radiation therapists.
The red lines of the infrared tracking cameras on the ceiling as the machine moves into position.
The screen above the bed and the yellow bar of my breaths that have to move onto the blue bar so that my heart is in the correct place for the treatment to my breast. (Deep Inspiration Breath-Hold)

Smell

The smell of cement as I walk to and from my car to the building.
My stale smell as I am not allowed to wear deodorant in the left armpit. I welcome cooler days and there have been about 5 so far (I am halfway through at the time of writing).

Hearing

Building sounds outside the unit
Crunch of my car’s wheels as I drive into the parking lot
The stamp of the rubber stamp as the receptionist validates my parking ticket.
“We’re ready for you, Mrs Francois”
“Take a few breaths. Now take some deep breaths in and out. When you’re ready, take a deep breath and HOLD. Perfect!”
The sound of the treatment bed shifting into position.
The sound of the treatment beams
The gantry moving the
“Alright, we’re all done for today. You can relax your arms now.”
“How many sessions left?” (this is because I started out saying, “one down, twenty to go”)

Taste

The delicious taste of ice-cold water from the dispenser after most of my treatments (I don’t drink anything before in case I need the loo while on the bed).
Some days I also bite into a sweet and tart Granny Smith apple as I walk out and to my car.

I used to have a shift dress in this exact colour a million years ago that paired with a jacket; I loved that outfit!

Touch

The feel of the cornstarch I dab in my armpits. I dab some fresh cornstarch just before treatment so I don’t smell.
The cotton of the pale-blue gown against my skin that I’m required to wear.
The feel of the radiotherapists’ hands taping the block with reflective markers to my chest, and moving both my torso and my arms into position. Andile is the therapist with the cold hands 😉
The welcome cool temperature of the treatment room; it’s hot outside because it’s summer in Johannesburg.
The feel of my cap on my head as I walk back out into the hot Johannesburg sun.
The feel of the parking ticket and either coins if I have it, or a note, to pay for my parking.
The welcome cold of my car’s aircon blasting as I drive home.

I hope this was interesting. I might come back and edit the post if I remember other sensations.